Soundstage, layering and tube differences


Within tube types, say el34’s, can anyone explain why one brand of tube like SED C’s have deep layered soundstaging and another, such as the Mullard reissue el34’s ,are more 2D? I just replaced my 10 year old SED’s with the Mullards ( which still need burn-in), but they are not nearly as 3D in my amps and are reported to be such.
Do some tubes resolve the actual recorded room acoustics better or is it a matter of harmonic distortion giving the illusion of soundstaging and 3 dimensionality??
jim94025
Welcome to tube rolling! Yes, this is normal and indicative of differing tube quality and methods of construction. +1 for 6L6GTB can be sweeter and clearer than EL34. If you have some coin, tbere are some GEC KT66 available.
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/kt66-gec
BTW how did your termite tenting work out?
Oh...I've been tube rolling for many years, but I've never had my question answered by someone who really knows. Is it the actual recorded soundstaging that some tubes resolve better or... just an illusion form the harmonic distortion of that particular tube?
jim, If you don't know the answer to your question, how will you know that anyone who answers really knows? Go figure.

Anyway, the 'illusion from the harmonic distortion' is related to the difference between solid state devices which typically have odd order distortions and tube devices which have even order distortions. Some feel that even order distortions are additive and odd order distortions are subtractive. You can easily research this issue - it is talked about quite a bit.

Individual tubes differ most audibly in tonal balance (but not exclusively), as do most of the other components in your system. Some are subtractive from the original source but none can be truly additive even if you like the sound better. The pits and grooves are absolute - its what you do with or to them that counts. 
My theory about soundstage is if the musical recording does indeed include the soundstage  "information", then any component in the audio chain - tubes,  cables, source gear, amp, preamp, etc., etc., as well as room acoustics  and speaker placement, can and will contribute to rendering that information. If everything is the same and a change in the tube brand renders a more realistic soundstage, then one could surmise that it's the tube that is delivering more of that information. Don't know if this qualifies as an answer but it's my opinion.
Yes it would be nice if you can change the soundstages,I would think it could help.